Education minister agrees to consider Deanes School academy bid

THE future of the Deanes School could finally be secured as the Department of Education has agreed to consider their bid for academy status.

The Education minister Michael Gove announced last night that having assessed the school's viability, he is happy to consider their bid to become a joint acacemy with the Billiercay School.

Official confirmation is expected in the next month.

If approved, it will finally put to bed Essex County Council's controversial plans to try and shut the school from August 2016.

It would mean the Deanes School, in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, would operate independently from the county council working in joint partnership with the Billericay School meaning its long-term future would be secured.

A statement from the Department of Education said: "Having looked at the details of the schools viability presented by Rebecca Harris and the management of The Deanes, I am very pleased to say that the Minister has agreed to consider a formal multi-academy application from The Deanes and Billericay Schools."

Head teacher Jan Atkinson broke the good news to staff this morning and said while there was a lot of work to do, it was a step in the right direction.

She said: "There is still masses of work to do, but he is seriously condering our application and we have not had that good news so far. Clearly he doesn't have the same concerns about our viability as Essex County Council does. We think we will know officially in the next month but we've just got to get all the paperwork in and hopefully they can fast track our application.

"So we have to keep smiling and keep hanging in there bcause hopefully we will get there soon."

Well done to all the staff, pupils, parents and supporters of the Deanes. Your perseverance and commitment to the cause and fight for a just outcome is commended. Good luck with the adjudicators decision in the next few weeks.

Well done to all the staff, pupils, parents and supporters of the Deanes. Your perseverance and commitment to the cause and fight for a just outcome is commended. Good luck with the adjudicators decision in the next few weeks.DeanofThunder

saveDeanesschool wrote:
The most satisfaction will come when the independent Adjudicator turns over ECC's decision...the final nail in their coffin.

......but don't be surprised if the result of the Academy Status application is learned before the report comes out ...and then the report doesn't come out. The success of the application will cover up all the failings of ECC. We will possibly not get to hear the adjudication. Wow....what a cynic I have become.

[quote][p][bold]saveDeanesschool[/bold] wrote:
The most satisfaction will come when the independent Adjudicator turns over ECC's decision...the final nail in their coffin.[/p][/quote]......but don't be surprised if the result of the Academy Status application is learned before the report comes out ...and then the report doesn't come out. The success of the application will cover up all the failings of ECC. We will possibly not get to hear the adjudication. Wow....what a cynic I have become.the citizen

saveDeanesschool wrote:
The most satisfaction will come when the independent Adjudicator turns over ECC's decision...the final nail in their coffin.

......but don't be surprised if the result of the Academy Status application is learned before the report comes out ...and then the report doesn't come out. The success of the application will cover up all the failings of ECC. We will possibly not get to hear the adjudication. Wow....what a cynic I have become.

Then perhaps the academy status will be 'delayed' until the report is published!

[quote][p][bold]the citizen[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]saveDeanesschool[/bold] wrote:
The most satisfaction will come when the independent Adjudicator turns over ECC's decision...the final nail in their coffin.[/p][/quote]......but don't be surprised if the result of the Academy Status application is learned before the report comes out ...and then the report doesn't come out. The success of the application will cover up all the failings of ECC. We will possibly not get to hear the adjudication. Wow....what a cynic I have become.[/p][/quote]Then perhaps the academy status will be 'delayed' until the report is published!saveDeanesschool